Letter-file



(No Model.)

-I.` STONER.

LETTER PILE.

eaf'dedV f y 1312/672 Z159M jaaa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAACSTONEB, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,670, dated August 16, 1881.

A Application filed January 22, 1881. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC STONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful File for Letters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in files for letters or other papers of like character, in which there are two outside leaves, ot wood or other rigid material, of such length and width as may be desirable, connected at one end by a strip of canvas or like exible substance, which strip can be lengthened or shortened in proportion to the number of papers to be filed, the other ends ofthe leaves being closed together b v means of a strap having one end fastened to the upper leaf', and the other wound around the tile and its contents and buttoned, the object of my improvement being to le papers in such manner that when any are removed from or added to the package the contents of the file will still be held firmly together. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation or side view ofthe file with papers inclosed. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through the upper leaf at u c. Fig. 3 is a plan or a view of the top of the tile. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the upper leaf atx y.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The leaves should be of the width of and somewhat longer than the papers they are to inclose. The lower one, A', is a plain strip. The upper, A, has two cleats, B B, running lengthwise along the outer edges of its upper surface. On top of these cleats is a thin sheet, D, of wood or metal, with a buckle at its back end. These cleats B B are to form a channel or opening between the upper leaf', A, and the top sheet, D, the three parts being fastened together by means of small screws or nails.

If preferable, the cleats may be dispensed with, and an upper sheet used ot' width sufficient to enable the edges to be turned down as flanges and secured to the sides of the leaf, the flanges forming the sides of the channel.

The plate D does not extend quite to the rear end of the leaf. p

There is fastened under one end of the lower leaf, A', by short broad-headed tacks m, or glued, if preferable, a strip of canvas, C, which passes around said back end of the leaf Al and upward to the back end of the leaf A, around which it is carried, and passes through the buckle H into the channel or opening formed by the cleats B B, between the leaf A and sheet D. Thence it runs forward through the aforesaid channel and doubles under itself, the end being fastened to the upper surface of the top leaf, A, with broadheaded tacks r or glue. If desirable, this end may be fastened to the middle bar of the buckle or to avstrip cut in its center and depressed.

There is a flexible tag, T, fastened to the upper side of the ,strip C, between the point where it is secured to the top leaf, A, and the buckle H, which passes through and out of the iront end of the channel. The buckle H is formed by two parallel openings cut in the sheet D, and having a bar between thein.

A` strap, S, is fastened to the side ot' the top leaf, A, which is passed around the file and its contents and buttoned at O. When papers are put into the file the strap is unbuttoned, the leaves opened, and the papers placed on the lower leaf, A'. By pulling the upper leaf, A, the strip C is lengthened the distance required between the leaves. Upon removing papers the strip U is shortened as much asdesired by pulling on the tag T. After each operation the front ends of the leaves are secured to the papers by the strap S.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, in a letter-file, of two rigid leaves, A and A', a ieXible strip, C, fastened to the lower leaf, A', and passing through a buckle into a channel above the upper leaf, A, to which it is fastened, the tagT attached to the strip C, and the strap S secured to the top leaf, A, all substantially as set forth.

ISAAC STONER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. GERHART, W. B. WILEY. 

